“Sem régua e esquadro”: Desafios e oportunidades da investigação sobre temas sensíveis e com grupos vulneráveis

Abstract

Conducting research on sensitive topics and with vulnerable populations entails a set of challenges and that imply thoroughly thinking about research design in order to respond to such challenges. This article presents a research experience focused on the analysis of food aid initiatives operating in Portugal and on its actors (volunteers and food aid recipients). The several strategies that were adopted during the fieldwork, namely participant observation through the practice of volunteering and semi-structured interviews, are discussed. Drawing on a critical and reflexive analysis, aspects such as access to the field, volunteer status, management of emotions and application of informed consent in a context marked by sensitivity and vulnerability are explored. Thus, this article contributes to the discussion of approaches that can be mobilized in this kind of research.